Indexing machine



Feb. 18, 1930.

E. W. RIEMENSCHNEIDER INDEXING MACHINE Filed July 29. 1926 2Sheets-Sheetf I F 1 1930- E. w. RIEMENSCHNEIDER 1,747,602

INDEXING MACHINE Filed July 29 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 18,1930 UNITED srArs PATENT oFfFicE f EDMUND W. RIEMENSCI-INEIDER, OFCANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORiTO-THEUNION METAL. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFCANTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO- INDEXING' MACHINE Applicationfiled July 29, 1926.

The invention relates to the manufacture of fluted tubular sheet metalcolumns, and I more particularly to a machine for marking r indexingopposite ends of the tubes, to indicate the positions of the flutes.

In manufacturing fluted sheet metal columns it is customary to firstform a tube of the necessary size, this tube being placed over a mandreland the flutes formed therein, one at a time, by means of a roller die.

In order'to provide for the proper number of flutes and the correctspacing of the same, it is necessary that each end of the tube be markedto indicate the positions of the flutes :5 and this marking or indexinghas formerly been done by hand. This is not only a tedious and slowoperation but it frequently happens that the variationin the marking ofopposite ends of the column results in an uneven spacing of the flutes.x

The object of the present improvement is to provide a machine forautomatically marking or indexingboth ends of the tube simul--taneously, thus considerably. reducing the time and labor required forthe operation and producing a correct spacing of the flutes.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which V Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvedindexing machine;

Fig. 2-, an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one of theindexing units;

Fig. 3, an end view of the unit;

Figs. 5 and 6, detail perspective views of the outer and inner markingblades.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. g

The machine includes a suitable bed 1, mounted upon upright supports 2,and provided near one end with the fixed indexing unit, indicatedgenerally at 3, a movable in.- dexing unit 4, similar in construction tothe fixed unit, being slidably mounted onthe bed near the other endthereof.

As both of these units are of the same construction, only one isdescribed in detail. Each unit consists of a sleeve head and a die 50head movable relatively longitudinally with- Fig. 4, a section on theline 1-4, Fig. 2, and

Serial No. 125,773.

in the sleeve head, and? each sleevejhead. comprises, a hollow cylinder'5, an end wall' (5- beingfixed at its. outer end as by screws7 andprovided with: a central a'pertured boss" 8,

within which is fixed oneend of a tube 9;

A shaft 10 is longitudinally slid'ably mounted through the tube andprovided at its inner end. with a die head-12. A pair of spaced guiderods 13 are fixed in the end;wall 6 and have slidably mounted thereon across bar 14 which is located through diametrically'opposed slots 15 inthe tube 9 and through a notch 16 in the outer end of the shaft 10.

For the purpose of normally urging thev shaft 10 toward the cylinder 5acoil spring" 17 is mounted upon each guide rod, being interposed betweenthe bar 14 and a shoulder, such as the nut 18,;locatedi at. the outerend portion ofthe guide rod.

A plurality of. indexing or markingblades 19 are radially disposedWithin the sleeve head cylinder 5, being connected to the interiorthereof as by screws 20. These blades are of'suflicient width to permitthe die head 12 to slide upon the inner edges thereof: as

illustrated in Fig. 2", the outer-fiends: of the blades being taperedas-shown' atQl and,pro

vided with the beveledxmarking'e'dges 22'.v

A series of; oppositely inclined, triangular.

blades 28 is carried by the die head l2 these 8 blades being locatedbetween thesl'eeve' head blades 19.v The blades 23 are located ingrooves 24 provided .in the periphery ofth'e die head: 12., c

the rear end ofjeach blade having anzangular notch 25 adapted to bereceived-imthe angular end 26' ofthe. groove.

Beveled cutting'edges 27" are formed. upon the inclined edges of theblades'23, terminatm ing in the flattened. end portions; 28,, which areengaged by the flange- 29,,uporrtheizretaining disk30, attached to theend ofthe die head'12 as by a screw 31. i

The tube 9 of-the' movable uniti t'isronnected to a piston rod 32providedfwithia suitable piston (not shown) located in the fluidcylinder Fluidisadmittedtothe cylinderthrough pipe 34* connected,through a two-way'val've 35., with-the-pipes, 36 leading tooppositeendsofth'ecyli-nder33. 4

I The valve35 is then operated to. change i.

the direction of movement of the piston forcing the unit 4longitudinally against the adjacent end of the tube while the oppositeend of the 'tube'is forced into the sleeve head of the indexing unit 3.The ends of the tube push the die head 12 outward, against the pressureof the springs 17 when the die'head 12 internally engages an end of thetube at spaced intervals the edges 27 of the die head'blades 23 markingthepositions of the flutes in each end of theftube, the beveled edges ofthe sleeve head blades 19 externally engaging and depressing the ends ofthe tubes between these pointsas" indicated in .Fig.4.,. e r Asbothunits 3. and ejare mounted with all of the blades19 and 23 in thesameradial positions, it will be seen that both ends of the tube aresimultaneously and correctly indexed or marked in a single operationproperly locating the positions oft-the flutes which are to be formed inthe tubular column.

I claim w 3 1. An indexing machine for sheet metal itubesjincluding apair of indexing units adapted to receive the ends of a tube, a seriesof radial blades within each unit provided with inclined edges and asecond series of oppositely inclined radial blades located betweenthefirst named blades for uniformly marking the ends of thetubeJ 2. Anindexing. machine for sheet .metal tubesfincluding a, pair of indexingunits 7 adapted to receivethe ends of a tube, a series of radialblad'eswithin each unit provided with inclined edges, a second series of oppo-3. .Anuindexing.v machine for sheet metal sitely inclinedradial bladeslocated between the first named blades foruniformly marl:- ing the.endsof the tube and means for moving one of the heads towardthe' otherxtubes including-a pain of "indexing units of radial blades within eachunit provided with inclined edges and a second series of oppositelyinclined radial blades slidably located between the first. named bladesfor uniformly marking the ends of the tube.

.Lf'AIl indexing machine 'for sheet metal tubes. including a "pair ofindexingunits I means for adapted ito receive the'e'nds of a tube, aseries";

means externally engaging anddepressing the end of the tube between thedie engagements, and the other unit includinglongitudi- I nally movablemeans externally engaging and depressing the end of the tube. betweenthe die engagements. f

.7. An indexing machine for sheet metal tubes including a pair ofindexing units, each unit including a longitudinally movable die headinternally engaging the end of 'a tube at spaced intervals and a, sleevehead externally engaging and depressing the end of the tube'between thedie engagements.

8., An indexing machine for sheet metal tubes including a pair ofindexing units, each unit including a longitudinally movable die headinternally engaging the end of a tube nally engaging and depressing. theend of the'tube between the die engagements, and moving one of theunitstoward the other. V

9. An indexing machine for sheet metal tubes including a pair ofindexing units, each unit including a longitudinally movable 'die headinternally engaging the end ofa tube at spaced intervals, and asleevehead externally. engaging and depressing the end of the tube between thedie engagements, means for moving one of the units toward the other, andyielding means permitting relativemovement between each die head'andsleeve head.

10. An indexing machine for sheet metal tubes including a pair ofindexing units, each unit including longitudinally movable radial diehead blades internally engaging the end of a tube at spaced intervalsandradial sleeve at spaced intervals and a sleeve head exterhead bladesexternally engaging and depressing tlie e'n'dof the tube between the dieblade engagements.

In testimony that I claim the above, Ihave hereunto subscribed my name.

. EDMUND W. RlEMENSCHNEIDER.

adapted to receive the endsof a tube,- a series of radial blades withineach unit..provided i with inclined edges, a secondseries of oppo-.sitely inclined radial blades slidably located betweenfthe first namedblades foruniformv gly marking the ends of the tube and means

